Problems relating to Trade and Investment on Singapore
9. Restrictive export/import trade, duty, and customs clearance |
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Issue |
Issue details |
Requests |
Reference |
| (1) Complex Procedures for Import/Export of Restricted Items | - It is time consuming to complete the requisite procedures for import/export or disposal of restricted items. | - It is requested that Government of Singapore (GOS) streamlines the procedures to expedite the grant of licences and approvals in their entirety. | - NIL |
| (Action) - Prior registration and licence acquisition are compulsory requirement upon Importers of the Products subject to import control. Importers may file licence application through online business licence service (OBLS). Importers with issued licence will then file import licence application via TradeNet, which is an EDI System. - Singapore Customs promulgated notice alerting all exporters to observe the advance export declaration (AED). Its full-fledged implementation has begun since October 2014 (the period between 1 April 2013 through 30 September 2014, being adjustment period): It is aimed at assuring a tightened security in the international trade. (Singapore Customs Notice No: 07/2014 "End of Adjustment Period for Advance Export Declaration") |
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| (2) Complexity in Obtaining Information on Export Control Parameter Sheet | - Under the same list for export control such as Wassenaar Arrangement, its application method, the applicable period, etc. subtly vary from one country to another. It is quite burdensome upon exporters to collect new information, each time the goods cross the national border. | - It is requested that GOJ and GOS overhauls the parameter sheet under Wassenaar Arrangement (for example, the global version of Center for Information on Security Trade Controls (CISTEC). | |
| (3) Nebulous Procedures for Registration of Imported Goods | - The procedures are complex for product registration on importing and selling medical equipment. - GOS requires product registration of prototype products imported for evaluation purposes. |
- It is requested that GOS obviates the need for renewal of registration once the product is registered, as it is done in Japan. - It is requested that GOS streamlines import procedures on products imported for evaluation purposes. |
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| (4) Complex Customs Clearance Procedures under FTA Certificate of Origin | - On products destined to FTA signatory country (ROK), customs clearance procedures in Singapore are quite complex on issuance of certificate of origin. Should its issuance delay, it could jeopardise the delivery date a Member Firm's Subsidiary (MFS) committed with its customer. MFS has requested Singapore customs assistance for determining the applicable HS code number. For a single product, Singapore customs takes, at minimum, 30-business days for its determination. | - It is requested that GOS expedites the procedures. | - NIL - Refer to Singapore Customs website at http://www.customs.gov.sg/ |
| (5) Vexatiously Complex FTA Certificate of Origin Issuance Procedures at Singapore Customs | - Singapore customs directed MFS: "The last party in Singapore that issues invoice to overseas purchaser should be the exporter filing customs declaration," without, however, showing the underlining legislative provisions for this direction. How this direction works is unclear in the case where plural Singaporean enterprises are included in the chain of transaction among the overseas enterprises. [For example, SPE(FOB)=>JPE(FOB)=> SPE(FOB)=>SPE(FOB)=>THE], where: SPE means Singapore enterprise, JPE, Japanese enterprise, and THE, Thailand enterprise.] | - It is requested that GOS: -- identifies the applicable legislative provisions, and -- makes crystal clear the Full operational details for this direction. |
- FAQ at Singapore Customs Home Page |
| (6) Rigorous AEO (STP-Plus) Requirements | - On acquisition of STP-Plus status of AEO, it is difficult to meet the rigid security requirements when the goods are stored in external warehouses or at customers' premises (upon a vendor's request). | - It is requested that GOS accommodate flexibly the security requirements, responsive to the business patterns and the commodity characteristics. | - Secure Trade Partnership Programme |
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